The Suffocation of Katie

by Glenna Maynard

  “You guys are so cute it’s sickening,” Hunter says grabbing another beer from the fridge in the corner.

  “That’s it!” Vance shouts slapping his hands on his thighs. “Kai, man, I need your wallet.”

  “The fuck for?” Kai asks reaching into his back pocket. He throws his wallet at Vance.

  “Yeah, just as I thought,” he says peeking inside the leather folds. “Your bro card is missing.” He has tears in his eyes as he tosses it back to Kai. “Kat pull down your pants, I think you have Kai’s dick.”

  “I’d give you a p-pass Vance,” Penny says with a wink.

  “Fuck yeah! Let’s talk more about this in my office,” he says wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

  “You don’t have an office,” Hunter teases and Vance flips him the bird behind Penny’s head.

  Penny looks back over her shoulder and winks, throwing me a call me later sign.

  Kai bites my ear and presses his hand into my crotch. My cheeks flush seeing Hunter watching us. “Hunter is staring,” I whisper into Kai’s neck.

  “Let him stare, I’m taking what I want Kat,” he says his voice deep and commanding. “You wanted to come to the party, so I am making you cum.”

  OH MY GOD! He really just said that to me and I am melting like chocolate in the palm of his hand!

  “Does the fact that Hunter is watching as my fingers tease your clit make you wet Kat?”

  He shoves his finger inside my panties, as I bite my lip and whisper, “no,” softly.

  “Don’t. Lie. To. Me. You’re wet, and you like that he is watching the two of us, and getting turned on by how sexy you are.”

  “You are the only thing making me wet Kai. Nothing or no one else.”

  “Then prove it.”

  “Prove what?” I ask unsure of what he is wanting from me.

  “If Hunter watching doesn’t turn you on then you won’t have a problem with me doing this...” He pulls the hem of my shirt up. “I want you looking at Hunter when I touch you Kat.”

  “Kai,” I start to talk but he grabs my mouth and turns my head towards Hunter who seems clueless to what Kai is saying in my ear.

  Kai has his head resting on my shoulder. His hand goes for my shirt again and I don’t stop him. I keep my eyes fixated on Hunter like he wants. His tongue slowly licks my heated neck. His hand comes up under my shirt not showing anything but the top of my stomach. His thumb and finger grabs my nipple pinching me gently.

  When my nipple doesn’t harden he grits in my ear, “Fuck Kat, you are so damn perfect and so mine.”

  “Yeah, and you are an asshole. If you needed to question that then maybe you should have a pussy pass,” I spit out at him pissed and embarrassed by his actions.

  “Where are you going Kat?” he calls after me, as I grab my purse, headed for the door.

  “Away from you!” I shout in frustration.

  I get outside and try to clear my head.

  Kai follows me. He looks amused. Is he laughing at me! “Go away Kai!” I tell him through gritted teeth.

  “Baby stop.” He takes a step towards me and I swing my purse catching him in the elbow with it. He grabs my purse and tugs on it. All of it’s contents go flying onto the gravel driveway.

  He crouches down, laughing, picking up my makeup and my random hair ties and junk.

  “Just leave it Kai.” I smack at his hands, making him drop my belongings.

  “You are overreacting!”

  “Am I?! Because I think what Vance was saying about you being whipped, got under your skin, hurt your pride. Feel better now? Want to check your wallet for your man-card?”

  We are now sitting on the driveway with gravel digging in our asses. He grabs my hands and I am trembling with anger. His forehead is pressed to mine. “Kat, baby, I was messing around. I’m sorry. This is what could be our last night together for a while and I don’t want to spend it fighting. Please! I won’t get on that plane if you are mad at me.”

  “Give me a moment.” I take his words to heart, and he is right, I don’t want to waste our time fighting. “I love you Kai. Wild horses,” I say into his lips, tangling my tongue with his.

  He sucks my tongue soft and sweet then he bites my bottom lip, shoving me backwards on the hard ground. Rocks are poking me in the back, probably making their mark. Hell, I might need Kai to dig chunks of rock from my skin tomorrow.

  His hands claw their way under my shirt moving the cups of my bra out of his way. His mouth latches onto my nipple and I cry out in pleasure and pain.

  “Um Kai…think we can take this to the grass or the car even? I have gravel digging in my back and I don’t think my ass has fully healed from the brick the other night.”

  “Come with me.” He pulls me up and dusts the gravel and dirt from my back. He starts walking me towards the farmhouse.

  “Thought you said Jake never goes in there?” I question with my brows furrowed. I don’t want to upset Jake by going in his parent’s house without permission.

  “It’s fine Kat. I go in every few weeks and make sure the place isn’t falling apart.”

  He jerks me forward and we walk onto the wraparound porch and make our way to the back entrance. “This porch is so awesome!”

  “Yeah it was cool growing up. Jake and I used to race our hot wheels around it.” Kai smiles at the memory.

  He goes on to tell me about growing up with Jake. They are cousins. I had no idea. That explains why he probably had more than enough reasons to want to keep Raven away from him. She must be working her way through the family. Okay that is mean but still…

  Kai unlocks the door and pulls me inside. He flicks on a light over the stove. This house seems so sad. It just sits here untouched, except for when Kai checks on it.

  “In here,” Kai calls from another room. I find him in a bedroom that must be the guest room. A hint of jealousy flickers in the back of my mind, wondering if Kai ever came in here with Raven. I know they have a history and I cannot be angry about what happened before me, but it hurts my heart all the same.

  I push my bad thoughts away instantly when Kai smiles at me wickedly with those damn dimples that make me crazy. I tear my shirt over my head and unhook my bra letting it fall to the floor.

  Kai removes his shirt too. He goes over, looks out the window, and laughs. Curious as to what is so funny, I go over and wrap one arm around his waist, looking over his shoulder with my bare breasts smashed into his muscular back. Well dang, Penny is at her car making out with Hunter not Vance.

  “I got nothing,” I say with a laugh.

  “Yeah me either,” Kai says turning into me.

  “I don’t want tonight to end,” he says somberly.

  “Why is that?”

  “Because when we wake up tomorrow, I will be getting ready to go to LA, and see what my future holds, and you won’t be there to share in my day.”

  “I’ll be with you Kai, we share one soul. Wherever you go, you take half of me with you.”

  “Killing me Kat.”

  “I want you so bad Kai.”

  He pulls me onto the bed with him, wrapping his arms around me as he oh so slowly but softly starts kissing the side of my neck. And we just lay there, together, holding on to tonight.

  Chapter 24

  It’s been two weeks since Kai left for LA. Two weeks since our lives have been turned upside down. My boyfriend, Kai Cooper, is on his way to becoming a rock star. Cooper’s Religion signed a major recording deal for two albums and two tours. One for the states and if the first does well the second will be international. He has been the talk of the town and the school. It has been so hard not seeing him. Things are moving so damn fast. I miss him. I miss those dimples owning my soul.

  Things are only going to get harder. Like today, for instance, it is my eighteenth birthday and Kai can’t be here. He is in a studio in LA working on his first single. He offered to fly me out to him but with his schedule and the way the flights are, we would have gotten to see
each other for maybe an hour. And that would be long enough to piss both of us off.

  Penny is coming to pick me up. We are meeting up with Raven to do something to celebrate my birthday. Becks wanted to tag along, but Penny told him no, that this is girls only. Beckett apologized to me but things are still awkward between us.

  And Penny well she has been flirting and texting with Hunter and Vance. Neither of them seem to mind that she is talking to both of them. She says she doesn’t care that they are screwing random girls in LA either. She said she wasted enough time on Aaron, and now she just wants to have fun. Raven and Jake called it quits when he drove her home that night from the party. She has been acting weird. Every time I talk about Kai, she rolls her eyes and makes little snippy comments. I don’t know if she is jealous or if now that Jake doesn’t want her she wants Kai back? That’s what Penny thinks. She keeps telling me she doesn’t trust Raven.

  My phone buzzes with a FaceTime call from Kai.

  “Hi,” I answer flipping the video around so he can see me.

  “This has to be quick, but Happy Birthday Kat. I love you.”

  Then I see Vance, Jake and Hunter squeeze into the frame, and they shout “Happy Birthday Kat baby, I love you,” mocking Kai. Then they start making kissy sounds like middle schoolers.

  “Thank you,” I say and blow them all a kiss.

  Vance is such an idiot, he jumps up as if he is catching my kiss and slaps his palm to his cheek. Kai punches him and shouts, “That was meant for me!”

  A female voice I don’t recognize cuts in telling the guys they are ready for them in the booth. ”I gotta go Kat, don’t go breaking my heart.”

  “Wild horses Kai.”

  God this sucks. I wish I was there watching him sing. I know it’s what he has been dreaming of I am happy for him. I really am.

  Khloe comes running into my room. “Khloe has a pwesent for Katie!” She squeals and claps her tiny hands together.

  I follow her to the kitchen where a small box sits on the counter with my name on it. Kelli reaches it to me. “This came for you I think it’s from Kai.”

  I eagerly open it to find a jewelry box. I flip the lid off the top to find a beautiful diamond horse pendant, on a silver chain. My boyfriend is amazing.

  Kelli helps me put it on. THIS is NEVER leaving my neck.

  Khloe yanks on my shirt and reaches me a cupcake that looks like it has had her fingers dug down in the top of it. I fight a giggle. “Did you make this for me?”

  “She made it with her Easy Bake Oven that Kai bought her. I wouldn’t eat that,” Kelli whispers the last part to me and trades me for a real cupcake with Khloe none the wiser.

  “Thank you Khloe!” I give her a hug. She gives me a slobbery pink frosted kiss on the cheek.

  Penny calls telling me she is about five minutes away. I tell Kelli and Khloe bye. When I go out into the garage, a red Camaro that matches Kai’s is sitting here with a bow on it.

  “OH and there is this… This is your birthday/graduation present from all of us. Kent, Kai, Kirk, Khloe and me. I talked to your guidance counselor this week. Katie I am so proud of you for getting Valedictorian of your class.” We both have tears. I can’t believe they did this for me. “Kai said you loved his so much he wanted you to have one of your own, so we helped him with it even though he tried to refuse our offer. So when you talk to him later, don’t let him know any differently.” She grabs my hand placing the keys in it and hugs me. “You are like a daughter to me Katie. You deserve this.”

  “This is too much, I can’t,” I sob tears of joy.

  “You can and you will. Kai wants you to have it and so do we. Now go out and enjoy your birthday!” She wipes her tears.

  I rip the bow off with shaky fingers and get in the car. After adjusting the seat and mirrors, I back out of the garage and meet Penny at the end of the driveway. I wait for her to park and roll down my window as she gets out of her car.

  She sees me and squeals. Then she says, “Katie I am starting to rethink this whole not hating you thing.”

  “Then get in and you can decide while we cruise around.”

  “I cannot believe your boyfriend bought you a fucking car. You bitch! All of the good stuff always happens to you Katie, so not fair.”

  “Okay miss I have TWO rock stars CALLING and TEXTING me all the TIME,” I tease her. “Text Raven and tell her we are on our way.”

  Penny takes my phone sending her the message. She snaps a quick picture of me driving my car, and a few minutes before I come up on Raven’s turn, she sends a text back saying she can’t come out with us.

  “I told you, that girl is a hater!” Penny gives me a DON’T EVEN TRY TO DENY IT glare.

  “Raven is complicated,” I say, knowing deep down I think Penny is right.

  Penny I end up driving to the Dairy Bar for a milkshake, and we even stop by Beck’s house to show him my new ride. He isn’t impressed. He thinks Kai is trying to buy me. WHATEVER, he just doesn’t like Kai, for whatever reason. He needs to get over it.

  After I drop Penny back at her car, I have something I have wanted to do. Well something that I have needed to do. I needed to wait until today though. I haven’t heard from, or talked to my mom since Myrtle Beach.

  I sit in my car in front of my old house debating on getting out. I see Deloris peering out of her window and decide to at least check in on her.

  She comes to her door slowly; she isn’t getting around too well since her fall I guess. I feel horrible that I haven’t been to check on her sooner. “Katie!” She smiles opening her door. She has new glasses. I notice them right away. The lens look to be about three inches thick. She should be seeing great now. Poor Percy can’t hide from her now.

  “What are you doing here? Did your mom forget something when she moved?”

  “No, I was coming to see her, but thought I would check on you first. My mom moved?”

  “I reckon she ran off with that man. Nasty feller. I didn’t much like him. He had a funny look about him that one. Reminded me of the man that first brought you and dropped you off when you were probably I don’t know, I think you were three or four. You was a tiny thing.”

  “Where did she go?”

  “Can’t say to be sure. Out of town though. Left last week. Loaded up her car and was gone. Stiffed Jimmy on this month’s rent too.”

  “You said a man dropped me off when I was a child? Who was he? Are you saying my mother didn’t always have me?”

  “That’s right. She lived here for about six months or so I’d say before she got you.”

  “Thanks Deloris.” I give her a gentle hug. What in the actual fuck, am I supposed to do with that information?

  “Wait, why aren’t you with your mom?” She eyes me curiously; her glasses magnifying her tiny, weathered eyes making them appear large.

  “Long story, I’ll come back soon.”

  I help her to her chair and get her some water before I go. I worry about her being so old and alone.

  Looking over at the house that was once my sanctuary and my worst nightmare I can’t help but be drawn to it. Walking through the gate, I take a deep breath. It feels as though I have not been here in years instead of a few months. I step on to the small wooden porch with the white paint peeling; the dark wooden front door looks so cold and uninviting. I smile though when I see a hint of red and pink from where Kai and I painted over Penny’s ‘artwork.’ Kai and I were just getting to know each other better; he was being so sweet to me.

  The door opens suddenly and Jimmy—the property owner comes out with trash bags.

  “Hey kid, did your mom send you to pay me?”

  “Uh no, I came here looking for her but she moved I guess?”

  He scratches his beard. “Well must be why she left this stuff.” He sits the bags down by my feet. “There’s a few boxes left too, if you want to go through them.”

  “Sure, thanks Jimmy.”

  “No problem. Got a new tenant coming by tomorrow
to look at the place. Anything you don’t want just sit it on the porch and I can toss it for ya.”

  “Okay,” I say and he opens the door for me, leaving me alone so I can look in private.

  The living room is barren along with the rest of the house, other than my old bedroom. I open the boxes Jimmy was referring to and wow…my mom left my baby pictures, and anything that belonged to me or serves as a memory of me. I guess she is finally letting me go. There isn’t much really, but I don’t have the energy to sort through it all right now. I take the boxes and bags stuffing them in my trunk. Maybe the Coopers will let me store this stuff in the attic, or their garage, or something, though I probably have room in my gigantic closet.

  We haven’t really talked about what my plans are after graduation in a few weeks. I haven’t applied to any colleges and Kai hasn’t said anything about my coming to LA. He isn’t even sure where he is going to be in a few weeks. They are focusing on getting their first single cut in time to join the Lords of Rock tour as an opening act. I think the tour kicks off near the end of May in Seattle.

  Penny has been begging me to move to Georgetown with her. She is going to school there in the fall. It is a tempting offer. I don’t know what I want to do or where I want to go. I can’t just sit around and pine away after Kai while he is chasing his dream.

  I drive to my home for now, and think hard about what I want. I can’t see anything beyond Kai. He has become my world and I am not sure that is a good thing. I have lost myself in him. When I go to bed, I am dreaming of him and when I awake, he is the first thought I have.

  I park my car next to Kai’s and smile wondering how his day in the studio has been going.

  Kirk is at the counter when I come through the kitchen. “Happy Birthday Katie.” He smiles reaching me a cupcake. “No big plans tonight?”

  “Nah, I am getting up early to help decorate the gym for prom.”

  “Guess you are bummed Kai won’t be taking you,” he says.

  “I don’t mind. He has a good reason. I’m going to go stag with Raven.”

  “Have fun with that,” he says with a snort, rolling his eyes. On that note, he leaves me alone with the cupcakes and I eat way too many of them feeling sorry for myself and thinking about my mom, if she even is my mom…